In the City of Bedford, residents and owners of properties are required to clear their sidewalks of snow. This fact brings up other questions such as:
- Am I required to keep all the sidewalks around my house or business cleared of snow?
- How often am I required to clear the snow from my sidewalks?
- I am a renter. Do I need to clear the snow or is that my landlord’s responsibility?
- Am I required to clear the snow from my driveway?
- Where can I put the snow that I clear from my sidewalk and driveway?
- What penalties and fines can I face for not clearing my sidewalks of snow?
- I am a senior citizen. Is there any exemption or assistance available for getting my sidewalk cleared?
- Why should I clear my sidewalks?
Keep reading to learn more about the ins and outs of keeping your sidewalks cleared of snow in the winter.
Am I required to keep all the sidewalks around my house or business cleared of snow?
Yes. If you own or live in a property in Bedford, you are required to clear all of the sidewalks that surround your property. For most buildings and homes, this means only the sidewalks in front of the property. But for a few properties, such as those that sit on corner lots, you may need to clear both the front sidewalk and a side sidewalk.
How often am I required to clear the snow from my sidewalks?
You are required to clear the snow once a day after a snowfall. Once a day is defined as before 9AM the second day after snowfall. So, if it snows at 7pm at night on a Monday, you have until 9AM Wednesday to shovel your sidewalks.
Also, if you clear your sidewalks in the morning and it snow again during the day, you are not required to shovel the sidewalks again that day.
I am a renter. Do I need to clear the snow or is that my landlord’s responsibility?
Both the renter and the landlord are responsible for keeping the sidewalks clear of snow around a property. You should talk to your landlord about which of you will be in charge of removing the snow on the sidewalk as you both can be fined if no one does it.
Am I required to clear the snow from my driveway?
No. You are only required to remove snow from the sidewalks. Removing the snow from your driveway is a personal choice.
Where can I put the snow that I clear from my sidewalk and driveway?
Snow that you have removed from the sidewalks and driveway should be put either in your yard or on the tree lawn directly in front of your house. You cannot put snow removed on your neighbor’s property or into the street.
What penalties and fines can I face for not clearing my sidewalks of snow?
If you do not remove the snow from the sidewalks around your property, you can be cited by Bedford Police. The citation will be for a minor misdemeanor, which is kind of like a parking ticket. You will need to appear before a judge who can then fine you up to $150.
I am a senior citizen. Is there any exemption or assistance available for getting my sidewalk cleared?
The City of Bedford ordinances do not make allowances for senior citizens and those who are disabled. That being said, the City of Bedford is always happy to help people who need a little help. Please contact your Bedford City Council representative if you need help with clearing your sidewalks and they will help you find a group that can help you.
Why should I clear my sidewalks?
We have already discussed that you can be fined for not shoveling your public walks. But clearing your sidewalks is not just about keeping from getting in trouble. It is also about being a good neighbor. Many people use our sidewalks too get around the city. This includes many children, especially if you live near a school or park. If the sidewalks are not clear, many of these people must walk in the street which is dangerous to both the people walking and the cars driving.
Taking a few minutes to clear the sidewalks makes sure helps make sure that our neighborhood is both safe and a nice place to be.
Official Bedford Ordinance For Shoveling Snow
1341.05 DUTY TO KEEP SIDEWALKS IN REPAIR AND CLEAN.
(a) No owner or occupant of abutting lands shall fail to keep the sidewalks, curbs or gutters in repair and free from snow , ice or any nuisance.
(ORC 723.011)
(b) Every owner, occupant or person in control of any lot or land within the City, along the front or side of which a sidewalk is located, shall keep the sidewalk free from snow , ice, slush, dirt, mud or any other foreign substance, provided that no sidewalk shall be required to be cleaned more often than once in any one day or before the hour of 9:00 a.m. next following the fall of any snow .
(c) No person removing snow from any driveway or sidewalk within the City shall deposit the same upon the pavement or sidewalk of any public street or on any tree lawn on any public street, except the tree lawn immediately in front of the premises from which the snow is removed.
(d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(Ord. 4645-77. Passed 4-18-77.)